Wong helps Masterson win Cards debut

St. Louis Cardinals' Kolten Wong follows through on a two-run single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
The Associated Press

St. Louis Cardinals' Kolten Wong follows through on a two-run single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Justin Masterson throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)The Associated Press

Milwaukee Brewers' Carlos Gomez scores during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

St. Louis Cardinals' Justin Masterson, left, scores past Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy on a two-run single by Kolten Wong during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)The Associated Press

St. Louis Cardinals' Justin Masterson, left, scores past Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy on a two-run single by Kolten Wong during the second inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez climbs the outfield wall as a fan catches a solo home run by St. Louis Cardinals' Kolten Wong during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)The Associated Press

Milwaukee Brewers center fielder Carlos Gomez climbs the outfield wall as a fan catches a solo home run by St. Louis Cardinals' Kolten Wong during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Milwaukee manager Ron Roenicke has come to expect the best from Kyle Lohse.

So Roenicke was stunned when the right-hander gave up nine runs in a 9-7 loss at St. Louis on Saturday.

"He's been so consistent that it surprises you when he's that off with his command," Roenicke said. "It's hard to explain why. But it happens."

Lohse turned in his second worst outing of the season. He gave up eight hits in a short four-inning effort. He gave up eight earned runs in a 15-5 loss at Pittsburgh on June 6.

"I was just not commanding my pitches," Lohse said. "I never got in a groove."

The Milwaukee offense battled back from 6-1 and 9-5 deficits, but could get no closer than to within two runs.

"I was happy with the offense," Roenicke said. "I thought we were patient and got some big hits."

St. Louis manager Mike Matheny decided at the last minute against giving slumping infielder Kolten Wong the day off on Saturday. It proved to be a smart move.

Wong homered and had three RBIs to lead a 12-hit attack.

St. Louis, which had lost three of its previous four, moved two games behind first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central. The Brewers had a two-game winning streak snapped.

Wong, who entered the contest mired in a 6 for 36 skid, went 3 for 5. He slammed a bases-loaded single to trigger a five-run outburst in the second inning that put St. Louis ahead to stay 6-1. He also hit a solo homer in the first.

"That worked out fine for all of us," Matheny said of the late pre-game move. "It was nice to see him bounce back. With a young player, when he has a couple of rough days, you wonder, 'can he leave it behind and go back to having a nice approach.' He jumped right in and had some big at-bats."

Wong was 2 for 3 in his career against Brewers starter Kyle Lohse, a key factor in Matheny leaving him in the lineup.

Wong, who entered the game hitless in his previous eight at-bats, spent some extra time studying his approaches at the plate following Friday's 7-4 loss to Milwaukee.

"I knew the reason I was striking out as soon as the game finished yesterday," Wong said. "I was swinging way too hard trying to do way too much."

Masterson (1-0) gave up five runs on seven hits over six innings. He was acquired from Cleveland on Wednesday for minor league outfielder James Ramsey.

"There was a little rust out there," Masterson said. "But with that intense offense that we had, and some solid defense, that makes it fun to be out there."

ANCHORS AWEIGH

Former US Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell threw out the first pitch. Luttrell was awarded the Navy Cross and Purple Heart for his actions in June 2005 as part of Operation Red Wings. He wrote the best-selling novel, The Lone Survivor, which has been turned into a movie starring Mark Wahlberg.